Safety attachment for scaffolds



(No Model.)

L. ANION.

SAPETYATTAGHMBNT. FOR SUAFPOLDS. N0. 354,880. v Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

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LAXVRENOE AMON, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SCAFl-OLDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,880, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed July 8, 1886. Serial No. 207,473. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENOE AMON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louis ville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety Attachment to Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is applicable to all kinds of scaffolds, but especially to the swinging platforms or scaffolds used by house-painters; and the object of my invention is to provide an attachment for said scaffolds which will enable the workman to save himself from falling off of the scaffold in case of dizziness, sickness, or

ofinjury to the scaffold.

To the above purpose my invent-ion consists in certain peculiar-and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the-accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an outer side elevation of my improved safety attachment applied to a painters swinging scaffold. Fig. 2 is an inner side elevation of the same, one section of the safety attachment being folded down. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, looking at the lefthand end of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section of one of the end balusters on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

House-painters, while working upon high buildings, are frequently attacked with sudden dizziness, which, unless they have sufficient presence of mind to lie down, causes them to fall from the open swinging scaffolds or platforms upon which theyare obliged to stand. Such workmen are also extremely liableto serious falls from these scaffolds by the breaking of the same, and also by the violent swaying of the scaffolds during sudden heavy storms. Furthermore, when Working at great heights or under large projecting cornices, it is ex tremely difficult and dangerous for the workman to travel along the scaffold with his paintpot, as he has to stoop and steady himself by grasping the nearest objects with his hands. Thus his work is not only difficult and dangerous, but also necessarily slow when working on the present styles of scaffolds. By virers swinging scaffold, composed of the usual side pieces, a, and cross-pieces or rungs a, an ranged like those ofa ladder, and one or more boards or planks, a laid upon said cross-pieces and betweenthe side pieces in the usual manner. Such scaffolds are suspended from any convenient parts of a building or other structure by fall and tackle or other arrangement of ropes, and usually rock and sway with every movement of the workman or every current of wind. My improved attachment for such scaffolds and others is constructed as follows:

IB designates a series of blocks, each of which,

- at the lower end, is formed with an L-shaped lateral projection, 12, and at the top with a straight projection, Z), extending in the same direction as the projection b. On the outer side of each block is an upwardlyextending projection, o which is connected to the back of the block by a short L, b, in such manner as to leave a space between the projection b and the outer side or back of the block. Between each of these projections 12 and the back of the corresponding'block is pivoted thelower end of a baluster, G, the pivot 0 extending laterally through the upper end of projection b S 5 and into block B. These balusters are tubular in form, and at their upperends are pivoted at c to lugs d, which extend downward from tubular rails D, as shown.

Passing downward through the upper projection, b, of each block B is ascrew, E,-which works in a threaded socket, e, on said projection, and which carries atits lower end a movable L-shaped jaw, F, which works in ,conjunction with the projection 12 as a fixed jaw.

The projections or jaws b and the jaws F embrace the upper and lower edges of the side rails, a, as shown in the drawings, the grasp of said jaws beingrendered firm and strong by tightening the screws E.

The rail D is made in two sections, one of which carries an externally-threaded enlargement, d, and the other an internally-threaded ring, (Z which turns loosely on its section of the rail, and is prevented from leaving the same by an annular shoulder, d.

The upper projection, b, of each end block,

B, is provided with an eye, b, bored vertically through it, and each end baluster, C, carries a pin, f, which is welded to a ring, f, that embraces and slides freely on said baluster, so that when the ring is pushed down the pin f will enter the eye b and hold all of the balusters vertical, and when drawn up will carry the pin out of the hole or eye and allow the rail to he folded down, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each section of the rail may be made of any desired length, and may be supported by any 5 desired'number of balusters and boxes, and

the two sections of rail may be placed one on each side of thescafiold without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a a valuable safety attachment for scafiolds, and

one which may be produced cheaplyand attached and removed with ease and rapidity. It will also be seen that three or more sections of rail may be joined together for unusually long scafl'olds without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy o 1. An improved safety attachment for scaffolds, consisting of a guard-rail divided into connectible sections, balusters pivotally connected to said rail, and also pivotally connected to clamps for embracing the sides of a 5 scaffold, substantially as described.

ing the guard-rail, and the locking-ring f,

movable on the balusters and carrying a lock, pin, or projection, f, as set forth.

4. In combination with the guard-rail D, made in connectible sections, the balusters C, pivotally connected at their lower ends to the guard-rail, and independent locking devices for each section of the guard-rail, whereby any one of the sections with the balusters may be lowered without disturbing the other sections, as set forth.

5. In combination with the clamps B, the balusters O, pivoted to the clamps, the guard rail D, pivoted to the balusters, and the locking-ring f, to lock the balusters to the plamps.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAW RENOE AMON.

Witnesses:

KATIE Arron, J. B. COVERT. 

